UKGC Holds No KPIs for Security Contract
FOI reveals regulator lacks performance data for its own CCTV and access control systems supplier.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the UK Gambling Commission does not hold Key Performance Indicators for its own security contract. The disclosure raises questions about the regulator's oversight of its suppliers and its own internal governance.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) does not hold any Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for its own contract for CCTV and access control systems.
The response, published following a request dated 7 March 2025, raises questions about how the regulator measures performance and value for money from its own suppliers.
Why This Matters
The UKGC is the public body responsible for regulating the British gambling industry, funded by fees paid by licensed operators. It demands high standards of governance, data management, and transparency from the companies it oversees. As such, its own internal processes and contract management are subject to public scrutiny to ensure it operates efficiently and accountably.
KPIs are a standard tool used in both public and private sectors to measure a contractor's performance against agreed-upon targets. The absence of this information for a contract concerning the physical security of the regulator's own premises is a significant finding.
Breakdown of the FOI Response
The request sought comprehensive details about the UKGC's contract for 'CCTV & Access Control System Support'. The Commission's response provided limited direct information.
Key Findings:
- No Performance Metrics: When asked for the contractual performance KPIs, the UKGC stated: "No information is held falling within the scope of this request."
- No Renewal Decision: In response to a question about whether a decision had been made to extend or renew the contract, the Commission again replied: "No information is held."
- Information Withheld: For several other questions—including the name of the contractor, the total spend to date, contract duration, and the responsible senior officer—the UKGC applied a Section 21 exemption under the FOI Act. This exemption means the information is considered 'reasonably accessible elsewhere'. The UKGC directed the requester to the government's public Contracts Finder website to find these details themselves.
- No Extension Clause: The Commission did confirm that "There is not an extension clause in the framework/contract."
Significance for Regulatory Oversight
The disclosure that the UKGC does not hold performance metrics for a key operational contract is notable. Without KPIs, it is difficult to objectively assess whether a supplier is meeting its obligations or if public funds are being spent effectively.
For consumers and industry observers, this raises questions about the regulator's own internal governance. While the UKGC rightly holds its licensees to account, this FOI response suggests a potential gap in its own contract oversight procedures. The Commission's reliance on a Section 21 exemption also places the burden of collating public spending information back onto the public.